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INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES - Other investments (Details) |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 04, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 08, 2015 USD ($) item | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) item shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 05, 2018 ¥ / shares shares | Nov. 22, 2017 shares | Oct. 26, 2017 ¥ / shares shares
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the entity | $ |  |  |  | $ 11,036,000 | $ 92,925,000 | $ 124,737,000 |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  | 59,180,624 | 58,496,685 |  |  |  |
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees | $ |  |  |  | $ 5,908,000 | $ 9,411,000 | (4,404,000) |  |  |
Impairment loss of investment | $ |  |  |  | $ 5,738,000 | $ 3,686,000 | $ 0 |  |  |
Canadian Solar Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  | 33,895 |  |  |  |  |
Initial private investment | Canadian Solar Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  | 1,500 |  |  |  |  |
Over allotment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,000 | 2,890 |
Common shares exercised | $ | $ 2,333 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Suzhou Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  | 6.00% | 6.00% |  |  |  |
Tranquillity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |
Roserock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  | 49.00% | 49.00% |  |  |  |
Garland |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |
Pirapora Solar Holding S.A. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |
eNow Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment loss of investment | $ |  |  | $ 700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
SZSP | Suzhou Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members designated by the acquired entity | item |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members | item |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the interest | $ |  | $ 13,860,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Voting interest hold (as a percent) |  | 6.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members designated by the acquired entity | item |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members | item |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  | 231,190 |  |  |  |  |
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc | Canadian Solar Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership after sale transaction |  |  |  | 14.66% |  |  |  |  |
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc | Initial public offer |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  |  |  |  | 46,667 |  | 177,800
Share Price | ¥ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | ¥ 102,180 |  | ¥ 100,000
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc | Initial public offer | Canadian Solar Inc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares issued |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25,395

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